Single bowl coffee maker with spring-biased coffee basket



p V I J. c. WORST 2,566,914

SINGLE BOWL COFFEE MAKER WITH SPRING-BIASED COFFEE BASKET Filed Oct. 18,1950 Inventor: Joseph C.Wor t,

H is Adlorney.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 SINGLE BOWL COFFEE MAKER WITH SPRING-BIASEDCOFFEE BASKET Joseph 0. Worst, Trenton, N. J., assignor to GeneralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 18,1950, Serial No. 190,682

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to coffee makers and, more particularly, to singlebowl coffee makers with spring-biased coffee baskets.

In the present glass coffee maker having two bowls, the bowls areconventionally connected by a glass tube secured to the upper bowl. Thetube and the bowls themselves are frequently broken while being cleanedor while being assembled for use. When the coffee maker is cleaned,there is often some difliculty encountered in removing all the usedcoffee grounds, since some stick to the inside of the upper bowl.

Therefore, an important object of my invention is to provide an improvedautomatic coffee maker.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relatively inexpensiveautomatic coffee maker for brewing coffee of a predetermined quality.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a coffee maker in whichthe hazards of breakage are reduced.

In carrying out my invention in one embodiment thereof, a spring-biasedcoffee basket with a thermostatically operated release is held submergedin water. The water is heated by an electrically controlled heater witha magnetic switch. After the water is heated to a predeterminedtemperature, the basket is released and raised out of the water by itsspring. As the basket is raised, the magnetic switch is released,thereby de-energizing the heater.

For additional objects and advantages and for a better understanding ofthis invention, attention is now directed to the following descriptionand to the accompanying drawing and also to the appended claim in whichthe features of the invention believed to be novel are particularlypointed out. Fig. 1 is a side view, in partial section, of a coffeemaker embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 22 ofFig. 1 showing the thermostatically operated release in the closedpositions; and Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1showing the thermostatically operated release in the open position.

Referring to the drawing, the bowl l is provided with a cover 2 havingan aperture 3 therethrough. A receptacle, such as the coffee basket 4,is provided for holding the coffee grounds. The cover 5 for basket 4 issecured to the rod 6 and is provided with means, such as the snaps So,for attaching to basket 4. Cover 5 and the bottom of basket 4 areforaminated to permit the passage of water therethrough. The sides ofbasket 4 are extended below the bottom thereof, and basket 4 rests onthis extended portion when it is in the lowered position shown in Fig.1.

Rod 8 extends upward through aperture 3 and is provided with a knob l onthe upper end thereof. A bias spring, such-asthe spring 8, is disposedin compression between cover 2 and knob I.

The thermostatically operated release comprises the bimetal 9, a latchIll, a collar H, and a circumferential groove on rod 6 adjacent latch l0when basket 4 is in its lowered position. Collar II is interposed inaperture 3 between cover 2 and rod 6. One end of bimetal 9 is secured tocover 2, and one end of latch 10 is pivotally mounted to collar ll.Latch ill is provided with a recess in the edge thereof adjacent theaforementioned groove in rod 6. The free ends of latch I 0 and bimetal 9are engaged with one another by means of the recess Ilia in the free endof latch ill.

The thermostatically operated release is normally in the position shownin Fig. 2. Upon the attainment of a predetermined temperature level,bimetal 9 straightens and pulls latch Ill out of engagement with rod 6.

The stove and the magnetic switch mechanism for controlling the stoveare not described herein, since they form subject matter invented by W.R. Weeks and claimed in his United States Letters Patent 2,287,583,assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Briefly, thisstove and magnetic switch mechanism comprise a magnet keeper l2 securedto the bottom of basket 4, a magnet I3, a push button l4, a lever IS, aplunger l6, and the contacts ll. Y

The magnet keeper l2 and the permanent magnet I 3 coordinate theoperation of the switch mechanism controlling the stove with thethermostatically operated release, as hereinafter described.

Before and after a coffee making operation, basket 4 is in the raisedposition shown by the dotted lines 40. in Fig. 1. Cover 2 and basket 4are removed to prepare the coffee maker for operation. Bowl I is filledwith sufficient water and basket 4 is filled with sufficient coffeegrounds to make the desired number of cups of coffee. A coarse grind ofcoffee is preferably used, since the particles are large and are noteasily forced through the holes in basket 4. Basket 4 is snapped ontocover 5 and cover 2 is placed on bowl I. Knob l is depressed,compressing spring 8. until basket 4 rests on the bottom of bowl I. Atthis time, magnet keeper l2 also rests on the bottom of bowl I, andlatch l0 engages the groove in rod 6, thereby holding basket 4 in thelowered position.

manent magnet II is held in the raised position by magnet keeper l2,thereby holding the stove energized. The water trapped under basket 4 isheated and passes up through the coffee grounds. This heated water isreplaced by more water seeping under the sides of basket I. Ordinarymanufacturing methods used to form bowl I and basket I normally resultin surface irregularities which permit suilicient water to seep underbasket 4 to sustain-the percolating operation.

The thermostatically operated release mechanism is adjusted so that rod8 is released when the temperature level within bowl I corresponds tothat of a predetermined quality of brewed coflee. When rod 6 isreleased, spring 8 raises basket I to position 40. As magnet keeper I2is pulled up, permanent magnet l3 falls and plunger opens contacts II tode-energize the stove.

While the present invention has been described by reference toparticular embodiments thereof,

it will be understood that this is by way of illustration of theprinciples involved and that those skilled in the art may make manymodifications in the arrangement and mode of operat on. Therefore Icontemplate by the appended claim to cover any such modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

In a coffee maker having a single bowl. a cover on said bowl havinganaperture therethrough, a rod extending downward through said apertureinto said bowl having a knob portion secured to the upper end thereofand having a circumferential recess therearound adjacent said cover, acollar device interposed in'said aperture between said rod andsaidcover, a latch for engaging said rod in said recess having one endthereof pivotally mounted to said collar device and having a slot in theother end thereof, a bimetallic temperature responsive member" havingone end secured to said cover and having the other end thereof engagedwith said latch in said slot in the end thereof for pulling said latchout of engagement with said rod in response to the attainment of apredetermined temperature level within said bowl, a spring disposed incompression between said cover and said knob portion for,

raising said rod in response to the release of said rod from said latch,a foraminated disk secured to the lower end of said rod in a planeperpendicular to the axis of said rod, a coffee receiving basket havingthe bottom thereof foraminated and having the sides thereof extending adeterminable distance below the bottom thereof for channeling heatedwater through the foraminated portion thereof, said bowl and said baskethaving irregularities in the surface thereof for permitting waterseepage therebetween, snap means for securing said basket to saidforaminated disk so that said disk covers the top of said basket,electric heating means for supplying heat to said bowl, and meanscontrolling said heating means operable responsively to the temperaturelevel within said bowl.

JOSEPH C. WORST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 133,681 Tarlton Dec. 3, 1872285,972 Cochran Oct. 2, 1883 1,623,093 Chapin et al. Apr. 5, 19271,921,036 Mathews Aug. 8, 1933 2,234,741 Schurig Mar. 11, 1941 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 12,145 Germany Jan. 12, 1881 15,877 GreatBritain 1901

